Divorce Process: Who Can I Expect to Meet during My Divorce?

 Posted on August 14, 2015 in Divorce

It is rare that a couple can get divorced with no involvement from outside professionals. When you get divorced, you are dismantling a relationship that often includes significant amounts of money, property, and considerations for the couple and their children's future. Dividing your property and determining the best way to move forward with issues such as child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance generally requires neutral guidance from individuals who specialize in these areas.

When you file for divorce, understand that you will be working with a group of diverse professionals over the next few months to complete the process. This group includes your attorney, who will represent your interests throughout the process and guide you through each step. The circumstances present in your divorce will determine the necessity of other outside help.

A Property Appraiser

Dividing your marital property is an important part of your divorce. To divide it fairly, the court will need an accurate dollar amount for your shared property, which can include your home, other pieces of real estate, your shared vehicles, your accounts, and if you or your spouse own a business, each partner's share in the company.

For your home, this appraiser might be a real estate agent. For a small business, it might be a team of business owners with similar companies.

A Psychologist or Social Worker

If you have minor children, determining their custody will be a part of your divorce proceeding. Sometimes, determining an appropriate child custody arrangement requires the parents to undergo psychological evaluations. In other cases, the court might require a social worker to visit each household to observe how each parent interacts with the child. The court might determine that a guardian ad litem, an attorney assigned to represent your child's best interests, is necessary. If so, this individual will interview you, your spouse, and your child and observe each parent as they interact with the child to determine the best custody situation for the child.

A Mediator

If you and your spouse choose to divorce through mediation, you will work with a neutral third party known as a mediator to discuss your goals and determine the terms of your divorce settlement. This individual simply facilitates your discussion and guides you toward a mutually-satisfying settlement.

The Judge

If you end up in court to complete the divorce process, your case will be determined by a judge. The process of reaching a verdict through a trial is known as litigation. If you complete your divorce through litigation, your attorney will work with you to develop a courtroom strategy that best demonstrates your needs and interests to the judge.

Divorce Attorneys in Kane County

Even if you and your spouse opt to divorce through collaborative law, you will not complete the divorce process alone. To learn more about the various professionals you will meet as you move forward with your divorce, call Goostree Law Group at 630-584-4800. When you call, you can schedule your free legal consultation with a skilled Kane County family attorney at our firm and learn more about how we can represent you during the divorce process.